Wire rope



J. N. BELLWALD.

WIRE ROPE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8, 1920.

Pat elated Nov. 22, 1921.

anvewtoz 777M212 Z Z Wu Z65 m (lam/"M10 JOHN N. IBELLWALI), OF MEXICO,MEXICO.

WIRE ROPE.

Specification of Letters iEatent.

Patented Nov.22,1921.

Application filed March 18, 1920. Serial No. 366,917.

To all to hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J orm N. BnLLwALD,

a subject of the Grand Duchess of Luxemburg, residing at Mexico, inFederal District, Mexico, have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in Wire Hopes; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. 7

This invention relates to improvements in wire ropes, such as used forhoisting cables and various other purposes.

At the present time, wire ropes consist of a plurality of helicallywound wires or strands, which are wound around a center or core. A hempcore is used in the ma jority of instances in making ropes, how ever, insome instances a metallic core con. sisting of a wire strand issubstituted. WiI'e ropes in which hemp centers or cores are em ployedare not entirely efficient in many respects, because when the ropes areput under strain, they stretch and their diameter becomes smaller byreason of the fact that the wires or strands have a tendency tostraighten out, and in doing so exert a pres sure toward the center orcore of the rope. Because of this action, the wires of the va riousstrands which are in contact with one another are subjected to anexorbitant and undue crushing strain, which of course shortens the lifeof the rope and causes the premature breakage of the wires at theseplaces. These broken wires being in the in terior of the rope cannot bedetected, thus the ropes break suddenly without giving any previouswarning, causing in that way, serious accidents. Even if the rope doesnot break suddenly, this undue crushing strain between the wires of thevarious strands shortens considerably the life of the rope. Also,because of the hemp core becoming; crushed, and the diameter of the ropebe coming reduced, clips, clamps, and friction grips of aerial tramwaycarriers which'are positioned thereon are allowed to slip, very oftencausing serious accident. Another and extremely noticeable disadvantageof wire ropes having hemp cores is that the strains to which the ropesvare subjected causes the strands to flatten out and assume asubstantially elliptical or oval shape, which occurs when they arepassed around or ,over sheaves, as the case with hoisting ortransmission ropes, and also when sheaves pass over them, as is the casewhere ropes are employed as tracks for aerial tramways. The ropesinassuming'an oval shape as already set forth, cause the wires of thestrands at opposite points to bulge out. In this way the wires of thestrands aresubected to very short bends in these places, whlch causesthe wires to break prematurely, shortening the life of the ropesconsiderably.

it seems that even though wire ropes in use at this time present theabove and other disadvantages, these conditions are accepted as anunavoidable evil. To overcome these defects, I propose to introduce intothe construction of wire ropes, an element, the function of which willbe to take up stresses directed toward the center, 'which occur as soonas the ropes are placed under tension. It is my intention to use ametallic center or core instead of the usual hemp core, preferably, mycore consisting of a tubular member composed of relatively m0vablemembers which permit free flexing of the rope. The metallic core will beused alone, or it will be employed in conjunction with a suitablefiller. This filler may be placed on the outside of the metallic core,that is, between the core and the strands or wires to prevent directcontact of the ietals, or it may be placed inside of the tubular core.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame;

Figure l is an elevational view ofa wire rope embodying a novel metalliccore constructed. in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of one of therings or elements sometimes used in the formation of the core.

Fig. is likewise a detail perspective view of still another form ofring.

Referring to the drawings wherein the preferred embodiment of theinvention is clearly illustrated, the numeral 1 designates a rope-likecore such as is usually employed in the make-up of wire ropes. Under myidea, I assemble a pluralitv of separate elements 2, preferably ofringdike formation, on this core so that they abut one another in themanner shown. With this construction and arrangement, it will be seenthe iii * point, I'desire to set forth sired, as shown.

bedaid' on hemp center or core 1 serves as a novel means for permittingthe metallic elements to be easily and readily assembled thereon and italso serves as a novel means for dis pensing a lubricant to saidmetallic ele ments. Thus, an extremely effective and flexible core isprovided. After the core is completed, a plurality of wires or strandsof wire 3 are wound in a helical manner about the core to form thecomplete rope. At this theifact that the hemp center or filler'need notbe disposed within the metal'rings, because in some instances, it may bedisposed on-the outside of these rings to prevent direct contact of thewires of the strands with theringsof ther core, which circumstanceswould other- W156 lessen the lifeof therope. Whether it is; inside:orthis fillerserves as an eife'ctive means for dispensinga: lubricantand emphasisis to this construction.

In; Fig. l I. have shown the core-as being madeup. of a plurality ofmetal rings of flat cross section, but I desire it to be understood thatthese rings may be constructed, if dein Figs. 2 and 3 wherein, in thefirst mentioned figure a round ring 5, split at 6 is shown, while in thelast figure a round wire ring 7 of diiierent construction is shown.This-ring 7 will'be'provided with a laterally offset portion 8 and thefree ends 9'bear against this portion Swhich forms ashoulder therefor.In use, these-rings will be pressed around the'hemp filler 1.

wire rope constructed in accordance with my invention willbe foundextremely useful and advantageous in every respect, thatbecause of theemployment ofthe tubularmetal core shown, which insures the ropes willbe less liable to lose their original shape in passing over sheaves orthe like, avoidmg, to a great extent, sharp bends. of the.

wires of the strands on opposite sides of the rope which permits thewires to break in little or no time. Also, the rope will. not

stretch, and will thus do away with the periodical cutting oii' andresplicing the ropes as isn-ow customary. Rope clamps, clips, and thelike, which are employed in many-instances with ropes ofothis type, willbe. preventedfromslipping and losing their grips on rope, due to theprevention of a decrease in diameter of the rope which now ordinarilyoccurs. Another feature resides in the fact that this metallic cor willnot be crushed'as'the' ordinary unprotected hemp core or center isconsequently, the lubricant which is contained in the protected hempcenter of my corewill not belsqueezed out. Because of this, thenecessary interior lubrication :of the ropes will be providedforxduringth'eir entireliie, thus insuring prolonged preservation oitherope.

y employing a tubular core such t use,

outside of the metal rings,

instead of the core formed by a. wire strand which is one of theconstructions now used, the ropes will be more pliable and the weightof'theropes will'b'e greatly reduced without impairing the strength ofthe ropes. With the metal cores nowin use, lubrication oi? the ropes ispractically impossible. 7 On the contrary, the metallic core which I usewill permit'effective lubricating the rope. I? or this reason and the ithe life and effectiveness of wire ropes will be greatly prolonged.Prolongation of the life o f'wire ropes willalso contribute to thesafety of their use which is ve y important, hecause thousands of livesare the safety of wire ropes everyday.

While I have shownaand described my core as beingused in conjunctionwith round wireropes, i desire it to he understood that it maybeequally-well used with ropes of different-designs, for-instance, the'loclred coil types and spiral'wire'ropes.

Another important feature 01 myinvention residesin the'iact that thetubularcore maybe made in many of spiral coils placed side by side, orof rings or disks of various forms, shapes and designs placed alongsideone another. The coils and rings may 'be'made from various appropriatekinds of metals or metallic alloys, anc' the rings may be formed fromone piece of metal or may 'bebuiltiup. in twoor'more sections, or

others above enumerated,

intrusted' to ways. F or example, it may be formed or" sectlonsmaybeformed by a spiral coil of one'or'more windings, as mentionedabove. The exterior circumference, of these rings and coils may heround'and smooth, or may be fashioned invarious ways, so as to providemore bearing surfacefor the strands. V p

A careful consideration of the foregoing description taken in connectionwith the drawings, will enable those. skilled in the art towhichthisinvention pertains, to acquire a thorough understanding of the'ob Hjects and advantages thereof without a more lengthy description. It isto be. understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a" preferred form of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope oithe subjoined claims.

i. claim as my invention A wire rope including a tubular flexible imetal core made up of a plurality of separate elements and a pluralityof wires or strands of wire which'are'wound around the core.

2. i-Lwire rope includingga tubular metal core composed of a pluralityof relatively movableseparate ringdike. members, and aplurality of wiresor strands of wire hel-ically wound around the core. A; structure setforth in claim 1, a filler of absorbent material being used inconjuncilio tion with the core and serving to contain and ter ofabsorbent material, a plurality of 10 dispense a lubricant. metalring-like elements assembled on said 4:. A wire rope comprising aflexible core center and arranged in abutting relation, composed ofaplurality of axially alined sepand a plurality of wire strands wrapped5 arate independently movable elements araround said elements.

ranged in abutting relationship, and a plu- In testimony whereof I havehereunto set 15 'rality of strands of wire wound in a helical my hand.

manner around the core.

5. A wire rope comprising a rope-like cen- JOHN N. BELLWALD.

